Brooks-Range Sharktooth Mini-Pro Avalanche Shovel
December 16, 2008
Whoa, is that a long product name. I have to apologize to Brooks-Range for taking so long to review this shovel, but I really did want to do my duty and test it first and we didn’t have any snow, and then my ski boots were broken so I didn’t go skiing at all, and excuse excuse excuse. But this weekend I finally took this shovel on a long avalanche training weekend, so here it is!
The Sharktooth is named for the serrated teeth on the metal blade, meant to help carve up that mean, nasty avalanche debris. And it works! Those teeth mean business. I dig a lot of training holes in the winter and having an extra edge in the form of serrated teeth really makes the whole process a lot easier. This is an aggressive shovel for difficult digging conditions. The shovel also has an expandable handle which is probably the longest handle you’ll see on an avalanche field shovel. The handle extends to regular shovel length! This makes it a little harder to fit into your pack, but it’s a trade off. It’s sure nice to have a long handle when you’re doing a lot of digging. The handle can also be used in conjunction with other Brooks-Range products such as the Rescue Sled/Tarp, which you’ll see in an upcoming review.
I tested the “mini” version of the shovel which has a 13 inch blade, but there is a regular version with a 15-inch blade. The shovel blades are etched with avalanche rescue instructions, which is cool but also scary because really, are there people out there who need their shovel to tell them what to do for companion rescue? Yikes. I guess since there probably really are those people out there, I need to remind everyone once again that this shovel has TEETH and they are SHARP. I’m an avalanche dog handler and I was a little concerned about using the shovel around my dog, because those shovel teeth can do some damage. This should also be noted during companion rescue. The teeth will help you get through the debris faster but you could also conceivably carve up your friend, so be careful. The shovel comes with a teeth-guard to protect your pack when you stow the shovel. I lost the guard this weekend but it’s really just a piece of tubing sliced lengthwise, so it’s easy to replace.
This shovel is a Geargals favorite because it comes in PINK and also can be personalized with your name on the blade. The avalanche technician I was with really thought the instructions for rescue were cool, so maybe I’m being unnecessarily snarky about it. I admit they provide good review and could be helpful to inexperienced rescuers having a moment of panic after an avalanche gobbled up their friend. So, probably a good idea to have the info on there. And if you’ve ever dug in actual avalanche debris, you can appreciate how much the sharp teeth on this thing can help. Smart backcountry travelers always have their trusty shovel, and smart, stylish Geargals now have their trusty pink personalized shovels for the backcountry!
